Abstract

An experimental study and a theoretical analysis of frequency-dependent optical Kerr effects in material media are presented. Through optimized pump–probe measurement techniques for the frequency dependence of the optical Kerr effect, individual resonant and nonresonant contributions to the third-order nonlinear-optical susceptibility χ_ijkl⁽³⁾(−ω₂; ω₁, −ω₁, ω₂) can be obtained from the optical Kerr data. Third-order depolarization processes are reviewed to provide the optimum experimental conditions for measuring χ_ijkl⁽³⁾(−ω₂; ω₁, −ω₁, ω₂) together with the corresponding formalism required for analyzing the frequency-dependent data. The experimental methods are demonstrated by dispersion measurements carried out for nonresonant and resonant optical Kerr effects in the organic Kerr liquids benzene and nitrobenzene. The results for benzene and nitrobenzene are discussed in terms of resonant π-electron excitations of each system.

© 1989 Optical Society of America

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